Chapter Summaries

Ikkaku Madarame defeated Doral Islad in a battle that left both fighters gravely injured, while Byakuya Kuchiki survived his fight with Felix by forcing her to accept a temporary restriction. Ichigo Kurosaki matched Nnoitra’s Gran Rey Cero with a Cero of his own, then fled as Nnoitra declared him his prey.

• Ikkaku Madarame and Doral Islad exchanged names, released their strongest forms, and fought until Ikkaku’s ultimate attack killed Doral and sent Ikkaku flying.
• Byakuya Kuchiki lured Felix into his petals, threatened to take her down with him, and persuaded her to wear a restriction that prevented her from harming Soul Reapers for a month.
• Felix carried the wounded Byakuya Kuchiki to Tetsuzaemon Iba before disappearing, and Byakuya lost consciousness.
• Ichigo Kurosaki fought Nnoitra in Bankai and with his Hollowfication Mask, but Nnoitra’s Resurrección and four scythes overwhelmed him.
• Ichigo Kurosaki countered Nnoitra’s Gran Rey Cero with a black-and-red Cero, then fled when the attack began draining him and threatening his reason; Nnoitra claimed Ichigo as his prey.

After the failed Hueco Mundo incursion, Soul Society assessed its casualties and the relative strength of Soul Reapers and Arrancar while Jun remained unaware of Aizen’s growing forces. Back in Soul Society, Ichigo asked the Undead what to do about his Hollow mask fusing with his face, then decided with Rukia to seek Hirako’s help.

• Kenpachi Zaraki accepted the retreat from Hueco Mundo, and the returning group reported nineteen survivors, five deaths, and five serious injuries; Urahara used Jun’s healing device to treat Byakuya, Ikkaku, Tōshirō, and the other wounded.
• Soul Society learned that Hueco Mundo’s forces included Espada, Fracción, and former Espada ranked in the three digits, while Jun privately considered the combat tiers of Soul Reapers and Arrancar.
• Jun worried that Soul Society was difficult to strengthen and did not know that Aizen had recruited four Original Arrancar; she continued exploring the Bottomless Abyss and planned to remain away for another month.
• After returning, Ichigo contacted the Undead and asked what to do because his Hollow mask was fusing with his face; the Undead said Jun had left no instructions and promised to pass on his question.
• Rukia listened as Ichigo discussed his fight with Nnoitra, and Ichigo decided they should go find Hirako for help.

Jun returned from the Bottomless Abyss and reviewed reports about Aizen’s growing forces in the World of the Living. He assigned allies to watch Hueco Mundo or join him, while Mashiro Kuna prepared to confront Kensei Muguruma and Sōjirō Kusaka agreed to accompany Jun.

• Jun returned with the expedition teams, who brought back fifty-three Vasto Lorde, new maps and passages, and the exiled Soul Reaper Naoto Kōzawa.
• Jun and the Arrancar discussed which Espada ranked among the strongest, and Jun argued that Baraggan belonged in the top five.
• Jun decided to go to the World of the Living and assigned Starrk to watch Ulquiorra while Harribel, Nel, Pandele, Oka, and others joined Jun.
• Mashiro Kuna declared that she intended to kill Kensei Muguruma, and Jun told her to handle the matter as she saw fit.
• Jun asked Sōjirō Kusaka to join him, and Kusaka agreed after asking whether killing Hitsugaya would make Hyōrinmaru his.

Jun visited Hirako and the Visored with Isuzu and Nel, warning them that Aizen was nearing his final plan and wanted to replace the Soul King. He explained his ties to the Arrancar and began giving Hirako firsthand information about the Espada.

• Jun arrived at Hirako's villa, and Hachigen and Hirako panicked when they recognized him on the door monitor.
• Jun told Hirako that Aizen's plan was nearly complete and that Aizen wanted to become a god by replacing the Soul King.
• Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi and several other Visored said they preferred to remain in the World of the Living, while Hachigen admitted he wanted to stay too.
• Jun and Hirako joked about Jun's visit, then discussed Nel's Arrancar identity and the Espada; Jun confirmed that Ulquiorra had taken Orihime Inoue.
• Nel called Jun the Arrancar's sage, guide, and creator, and Jun offered Hirako detailed records of the Espada's abilities.

Jun focused on Ichigo Kurosaki and investigated the desperate situation that had made Ichigo fire a Cero. He challenged Ichigo to a deadly training fight and revealed to Rukia that his equipment could include multiple Zanpakuto, even a second Sode no Shirayuki.

• Jun reasoned that Final Getsuga Tenshō came from the Shiba Clan’s duty to protect the Soul King Palace and could serve as a lethal last resort against Aizen.
• Jun stayed with Hirako and spent the afternoon swimming with Isuzu and Nel before Ichigo arrived with Rukia, Sado, and Uryū.
• Jun asked Ichigo to explain how he had fired a Cero while fighting Nnoitra, and Ichigo recounted facing Nnoitra’s Gran Rey Cero when he was close to death.
• Jun equipped six Spirit-Soul Orbs and described their abilities before challenging Ichigo to fight as if they were trying to kill each other.
• Jun formed a sword with Siphon and handed it to Rukia, who recognized it as Sode no Shirayuki, then urged Ichigo to begin fighting.

Jun overwhelmed Ichigo in their Training Ground fight, using his Bankai abilities and specialized weapons to disable Ichigo and absorb his attacks. As Ichigo lost control to his Hollow, Jun pierced him with a sword and offered Rukia and the others a chance to enter Ichigo’s Inner World.

• Jun forced Ichigo to use Bankai and his Hollowfication Mask, then slowed him with the Vimalakirti Bead and shattered his Getsuga Tenshō with the Seven Laws.
• Jun absorbed Ichigo’s repeated attacks and fired a powerful beam that blasted through the Training Ground before he repaired the damage.
• Jun explained that he meant to kill Ichigo, then used Hundred-Change Monster to mimic Wabisuke and made Ichigo’s Tensa Zangetsu too heavy to lift.
• Jun pinned Ichigo with an Immobilizing Talisman and prepared a Gran Rey Cero, but Ichigo’s Hollow power let him rise and counter with a Cero of his own.
• Jun snapped his fingers to disperse and absorb their clashing attacks, but Ichigo raged and lunged at him as the Hollow took control.
• Jun pierced Ichigo through the chest, then invited Rukia and the others to hold the sword and enter Ichigo’s Inner World.

Jun investigated Ichigo’s altered Inner World and discovered that it was filled with anger and buried memories. After Ichigo confronted a painful childhood regret, Jun sent him to rest, and Ichigo woke the next morning ready to continue.

• Jun brought Rukia, Uryū, and Sado into Ichigo’s bloodred Inner World, where Ichigo rejected them and Zangetsu could not be found.
• Rukia confessed her love to Ichigo, and her words shook the Inner World until it shattered and revealed Ichigo’s normal Inner World with Tensa Zangetsu.
• Jun had Ichigo sense a chaotic memory, triggering a flashback to his childhood friend’s disappearance and causing him to transform and attack Jun.
• Jun defeated Ichigo’s masked form, then ended the Inner World session and told Ichigo to rest after seeing how distressed he was.
• Jun called Isshin to explain that Ichigo would stay at Hirako’s place for a few days, and Ichigo went to bed after dinner.
• After dreaming about the childhood events and waking refreshed, Ichigo asked Jun to continue their training, and Jun agreed.

Jun helped Ichigo accept his Hollowfication mask, triggering a transformation that left him ravenously hungry for Spiritual Power. After Nel fed him, Ichigo’s Spiritual Pool had increased more than twentyfold, and Jun arranged to discuss his discoveries with Zennosuke Kuruyashiki.

• Jun explained that Ichigo’s Heart Demons came from things he cared deeply about and encouraged him to accept the fighting style represented by his mask.
• Ichigo fused with his mask during a sparring exercise with Jun, then collapsed and absorbed all the Reishi in the Training Ground.
• Ichigo remained famished after removing the mask, so Jun brought him to Nel, who fed him Spiritual Power until he was full.
• Jun measured Ichigo’s Spiritual Pool at 35132, more than twenty-three times its level two months earlier, and reassured him that becoming more Hollow-like did not necessarily mean he would turn into a Hollow.
• Jun called Zennosuke Kuruyashiki, who agreed to come to Karakura Town with Kanō Miyabi that evening to hear Jun’s discoveries about Hollowfication.

Jun reunited with Isshin and shared Ichigo’s new power and the danger of Heart Demons with the Visored, who began testing mask fusion. Three days later, Nemu arrived badly injured after searching for Jun, and Mayuri used her to ask about Aizen’s plans before allowing her to leave.

• Jun brought Isuzu and Nel to visit Isshin’s family, then urged Isshin to help him build a better Soul Society someday.
• Jun showed the Visored recordings of Ichigo’s mask fusion and explained how Heart Demons could trigger dangerous power.
• Kuruyashiki fused with his mask after confronting a Heart Demon of sorrow, and Ashido Kanō also completed the process.
• Jun agreed to attempt mask fusion himself after Isuzu encouraged him to face his past.
• Biersen brought the badly injured Nemu Kurotsuchi to Jun, who learned that Mayuri had sent her to follow him.
• Mayuri spoke through Nemu, asked about Aizen’s goal, and Jun explained the plan to create the Oken and replace the Soul King; Mayuri then withdrew and let Nemu leave.

Jun guided the Visored through confronting their inner demons, while Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi and Sōya Azashiro both went berserk when they could not let go of their past. In Las Noches, Orihime refused to stop healing a wounded Arrancar despite Grimmjow breaking her hand, and Ulquiorra found himself affected by her kindness.

• Jun realized Mayuri had not planted a monitor on Uryū in this timeline, so Soul Society would not learn Aizen's plans through him.
• Jun faced his enormous inner demon with Isuzu, confessed how important she was to him, and showed the others that his inner demon was shrinking.
• Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi went berserk after confronting his hatred of Aizen and Soul Society, so Jun, Kuruyashiki, Ashido Kanō, Hirako, and Nel subdued him.
• Jun learned that Sōya Azashiro had also gone berserk because he could not let go of his family's deaths.
• Grimmjow broke Orihime's hand while testing whether she would stop healing a female Arrancar, but Orihime continued until Ulquiorra intervened.
• Ulquiorra gently supported Orihime's broken hand, and her gratitude and kindness stirred something within him.

Ichigo and his companions entered Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime, while Aizen dispatched his forces and Nnoitra challenged Ichigo. Ichigo defeated Nnoitra in their brutal battle, leaving the rescue mission underway as Aizen headed for the World of the Living.

• Ichigo, Uryū, Sado, and Rukia entered Hueco Mundo, and Ichigo drew the Hollows’ attention so the others could head for Las Noches unseen.
• Aizen ordered Ulquiorra to guard Las Noches, sent Nnoitra to fight Ichigo, and took Grimmjow, Baraggan, and Felix to the World of the Living.
• Ichigo and Nnoitra fought as both released their full power, and Ichigo’s masked form overwhelmed Nnoitra’s six-armed Resurrección.
• Ichigo’s attacks severed all six of Nnoitra’s arms, and Ichigo removed his mask and left Nnoitra defeated.

After defeating Nnoitra, Ichigo learned how much spiritual power his reckless victory had cost him, while Starrk’s group found Nnoitra and set out to rescue a girl who could restore his arms. As Ichigo clashed with Ulquiorra, Dolfen incapacitated Yammy and the other Arrancar blocking Uryū, Rukia, and Sado, who continued toward Las Noches while Mayuri arrived to collect the fallen as test subjects.

• Ichigo reflected that he had spent about forty percent of his spiritual power defeating Nnoitra and could manage at most one more Espada-level fight.
• Natasha, Dolfen, Ge Ze Li, and Starrk teased Nnoitra, then Starrk persuaded him to come along so a girl they planned to rescue could help restore his severed arms.
• Starrk sensed Ulquiorra and Ichigo beginning their fight, while Uryū, Rukia, and Sado hurried toward Las Noches after Nnoitra’s reiatsu vanished.
• Yammy and four Espada confronted Uryū, Rukia, and Sado, but Dolfen arrived, incapacitated them, and dragged Yammy away.
• Uryū, Rukia, and Sado left the defeated Arrancar alive and continued onward; Mayuri Kurotsuchi then arrived with Nemu Kurotsuchi to gather them as test subjects.

Ichigo fought Ulquiorra, who revealed his ties to Jun Shimizu and the Endless Sea, but Ulquiorra’s released power overwhelmed him. The chapter ended with Ichigo being battered through the air as his anger reached a breaking point.

• Szayelaporro handed Orihime to Uryū and left, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi headed toward Las Noches to investigate his research data.
• Orihime warned Rukia, Uryū, and Sado that Ulquiorra came from Jun Shimizu’s Endless Sea and had powerful enhancement equipment, but they held her back from reaching Ichigo.
• Ichigo fought Ulquiorra in his War Demon state, and Rukia warned him that Ulquiorra had equipment that made him stronger; Ulquiorra removed the bracelet and revealed that Jun Shimizu was his father.
• Ulquiorra drew his sword and attacked Ichigo with explosive tactics and a barrage of Ceros, leaving Ichigo unable to recover or defend himself.
• Ichigo shouted that he would fight back, but Ulquiorra continued knocking him around until something in Ichigo’s mind snapped.

Ichigo’s strange Hollow transformation let him fight Ulquiorra with reckless attacks that healed as quickly as they injured him, while Starrk’s group protected Ichigo’s friends and explained that Jun Shimizu had planned for Ichigo’s berserk Hollowfication. Ulquiorra released his Resurrección, but Ichigo crushed his Moonlight Sword with his bare hand.

• Ichigo’s wounds healed instantly as he clashed with Ulquiorra, and Rukia led Orihime, Uryū, and Sado away from their expanding battlefield.
• Starrk and the other Arrancar arrived, shielded Ichigo’s friends from the spiritual-power surges, and asked Orihime to heal Nnoitra’s severed arms.
• Orihime restored Nnoitra’s six arms, and Starrk identified Ichigo’s healing trait as Death Resistance rather than High-Speed Regeneration.
• Starrk explained that Jun Shimizu had preserved Ichigo’s anger as a contingency, making him likely to go berserk when fused with his mask.
• Ichigo began overpowering Ulquiorra with attacks that burst his own body apart and healed immediately, forcing Ulquiorra to release his Resurrección.
• Ulquiorra launched a Moonlight Sword, but Ichigo caught and crushed it with his left hand as his arm healed.

Rampaging Ichigo fought Ulquiorra through repeated, catastrophic attacks, regenerating from injuries that should have killed him. After Ulquiorra hesitated upon seeing Orihime and the battle ended, Ichigo awoke in pain while Rukia urged Orihime to trust him.

• Ulquiorra attacked Ichigo with Moonlight Swords and detonated them, but Ichigo repeatedly regenerated and pursued him.
• Ulquiorra transformed into Segunda Etapa, Black-Winged Demon, and traded devastating attacks with Ichigo, including Ceros, Getsuga Tenshō, and Lanza del Relámpago.
• Ulquiorra hesitated after seeing Orihime, allowing Ichigo to stab him and fire a Cero; Starrk and the others carried the fighters away from the explosions.
• Starrk and Ulquiorra waited as the battle quieted, and Ulquiorra told Orihime he had meant to kill Ichigo before she thanked him.
• Rukia reached the naked, unconscious Ichigo first, and Sado and Uryū helped dress him; when Ichigo awoke, he convulsed in pain and insisted he was fine.
• Rukia stopped Orihime from using Sōten Kisshun and told her to trust Ichigo, while a pair of cyan eyes watched Orihime and Starrk, Natasha, and Dolfen whispered behind him.

Jun arrived at the battle and confronted Aizen and the Captain-Commander, revealing his plan to reform Soul Society and the influence he had gained through his students. As Soul Reapers and former enemies shifted toward Jun, Yamamoto finally unleashed his full Reiatsu, leaving the conflict on the brink of a decisive clash.

• Jun arrived late with Isuzu, Kuruyashiki, Kanō Miyabi, Oka, Tier Harribel, Nel, Biersen, and Pandele, and found the battlefield divided among Soul Society, Aizen, and Hirako’s group.
• Jun invited everyone to sit, announced he intended to end the fighting and defeat Aizen, then provoked the Captain-Commander over his teaching and leadership.
• Jun explained that he wanted to remake Soul Society into a safer, freer society and revealed that Kakyō TACHIKAWA had taught many Soul Reapers before the Second Division’s Punishment Force killed her.
• Kōga Kuchiki and Kuchiki Aozumi joined Jun, while Kaname Tōsen, Gin Ichimaru, and Grimmjow left Aizen’s side and returned to Jun’s camp; Felix chose to remain with Aizen.
• The Captain-Commander drew Ryūjin Jakka, and Jun warned that Yamamoto might silence the witnesses if he killed Jun; Yamamoto then released his full Reiatsu.

Jun and Aizen fought Captain-Commander Yamamoto, whose Bankai overwhelmed their attacks and destroyed Jun’s weapons. Aizen evolved through the Hōgyoku until his Reiatsu exceeded 4,000, and the three prepared to resume their battle.

• Jun sent the others back and joined Aizen in facing Yamamoto, while Aizen used Kyōka Suigetsu and Jun summoned his weapons and defenses.
• Jun and Aizen attacked Yamamoto together, but he released Zanka no Tachi and answered their strikes with devastating flames.
• Yamamoto cut Aizen in two, but the Hōgyoku restored him; Jun and Aizen then continued attacking while Yamamoto’s Bankai destroyed Jun’s weapons one by one.
• The Hōgyoku transformed Aizen and raised his Reiatsu above 4,000, prompting Jun and Yamamoto to stop fighting as Aizen proposed a three-way battle.

Jun and Aizen joined forces to bring down the Captain-Commander, then Jun assembled fourteen transformed fighters to attack Aizen. The coordinated assault began with Jun pushing back Aizen’s blast and the first wave of fighters launching their attacks, as Jun’s plan aimed to force Aizen into his fourth stage.

• Aizen used Seven Laws with Jun’s help to pierce the Captain-Commander, but Jun and Aizen chose to leave him alive.
• Jun ordered fighters who could not fuse to leave, while Gin activated a transformation with Rangiku’s ring and Yoruichi joined the battle.
• Jun, Ashido Kanō, Kuchiki Aozumi, Kuchiki Kōga, and the Arrancar revealed their Bankai or Resurrección forms as Starrk confined Felix.
• Jun gathered fourteen powerful fighters to face Aizen, who unleashed a wave of light that flattened Karakura Town and enveloped Jun.
• Jun pushed Aizen’s blast back, and Starrk, Tier Harribel, Oka, and Ashido Kanō launched the first wave of the counterattack.

Jun and his allies nearly destroyed Aizen with a coordinated assault, but Aizen evolved into a transcendent form and overwhelmed them in Hueco Mundo. Jun’s final gambit failed at first, but a mysterious dark figure seized Aizen and dropped Orihime beside the gravely wounded Jun.

• Nelliel, Aozumi, Kōga, Muramasa, and Pandele launched a second barrage that broke through the first attacks and battered Aizen’s protective light.
• Ge Ze Li kicked Aizen in the face, and Yoruichi shattered his light barrier with a devastating punch that knocked out the Hōgyoku and reduced his body to dust.
• Aizen evolved into his Fourth Form, destroyed virtual Karakura Town, and led Jun and the others through a portal to Hueco Mundo.
• Aizen overwhelmed the assembled fighters, killing or disabling Jun’s allies until Jun stood alone against him.
• Jun struck Aizen with the Non-Aggression Mace, but its reflected attack cut Jun in half; a dark figure then carried Aizen away and dropped Orihime beside Jun.

After Ichigo lost to Aizen, Jun confronted Aizen about the Hōgyoku and persuaded him to abandon it and stay with him for a time. Urahara gave Yoruichi permission to join Jun while he returned to Soul Society to investigate.

• Jun made sure the injured were safe, asked Orihime to heal him, and went to check on Ichigo and Aizen.
• Ichigo ran out of power and lost the battle, leaving Aizen standing amid the vast crater their fight had made.
• Jun challenged Aizen's reliance on the Hōgyoku, and Aizen expelled it, admitted defeat, and gave it to the Shopkeeper.
• Aizen agreed to return to the Endless Sea with Jun for a while, though he declined to join Jun's faction.
• The Shopkeeper urged Yoruichi to go with Jun and complete her Visored transformation, then told her he would return to Soul Society to investigate.